re: #420 Sharmuta

In my view, it’s possible to have both ideological purity and diversity if the ideology welcomes diverse groups with a common theme- that of supporting individual rights. Goldwater conservatism needs to come back to the fore.

Even Goldwater though, based on his discourses later in life, likely would not be accepted by many in today’s GOP.

Raising Goldwater though does, IMO, get to the heart of one of the real problems and causes of why the GOP and America is struggling with political identity. Anti-communism was the heart beat of so much GOP politics from Nixon-Goldwater-Reagan, that the welcoming into the GOP of the formerly Democrat social-conservatives who were stringent anti-communists change the complexion of American politics. The older GOP, which was socially libertarian (out west) or even, dare I say it, progressive (East coast), was gradually supplanted by more conservatively religious minded people.

Yes, all too often if one wants to raise issues from a different view the tag of “RINO” gets tossed out.

Given the economic and national security (even national identity) issues that hang over us, the wrestling with modernity vs anti-modernists (which is what this creationism debate expands to) will likely not get addressed up front, but will try to be swept under the rug.